France have beaten Portugal 1-0 in the second semi-final of the World Cup Finals 2006 from a penalty from Les Bleus captain Zinedine Zidane meaning that France now face Italy in the final.

The game started brightly enough, with France settling into the pace of the game faster than Portugal but with both teams not too keen to take too many risks.

Portugal came close to opening the scoring in the 7th minute after defender Maniche made on of his runs upfield and having a long-range strike that went only inches high of Fabien Barthez’s crossbar.

Franck Ribery placed a wonderful cross-goal pass that Thierry Henry was very close to toe-poking in past Ricardo in the Portuguese goal.

Both sides made some good breaks, with some great attacking chances, but the defending from both teams was excellent and the attacks broke down.

A penalty was awarded to France in the 32nd minute after Thierry Henry was adjudged to have been brought down just inside the box by Chelsea’s Ricardo Carvalho.

The French captain stepped up to take the penalty, which saw Ricardo in the Portugal goal diving the right way, but Zidane’s shot was just slightly out of reach and went past the keepers right to make it 1-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was getting booed by the English fans (of which there were many) every time he touched the ball, was proving to be Portugal’s most dangerous attacking player, with a couple of runs at goal that forced France to defend well and a penalty appeal that was waved away by the referee.

France were slightly dominating possession, with Ribery and Zidane working well together, but Portugal always threatening on the break.

The game went into half-time 1-0 up, but with both sides having plenty of opportunities to score.

The opening period of the second-half saw both sides pressing for a goal, with France coming close to doubling their lead on two occasions, with both Thierry Henry and Franck Ribery coming close for France, with Pauleta, who had been quiet until that point, and Deco having shots for Portugal.

Portuguese full-back Miguel was injured in a challenge early in the second-half, which saw him having to be replaced by Chelsea’s Paulo Ferreira as Portugal started to dominate possession, but France were happy to sit back and defend their lead.

Benfica’s Simao Sabrosa came on for Pauleta in the 68th minute, with Portugal pressing hard for an equaliser.

They had their best chance of the game in the 77th minute, from a free-kick taken by Cristiano Ronaldo that Fabien Barthez could only block, but Luis Figo headed the rebound over.

Ricardo Carvalho received the first yellow-card of the match in the 82nd minute, after fouling substitute Sylvain Wiltord, meaning that he will miss the next match.

Thierry Henry was subbed for Manchester United striker Louis Saha, who was the second player to receive a yellow-card, meaning he will miss the final.

Portugal threw everything they could at France, with some last ditch saves from Barthez and the Portuguese keeper Ricardo coming up for a late corner, but it was too little, too late for Portugal and Les Bleus won the match 1-0 and face Italy’s Azzurri in the Final on Sunday in Berlin.

Portugal now face the World Cup hosts, Germany in the third-place play-off in Stüttgart on Saturday.